Advanced Fixed Gear Techniques

In addition to the basic advantages that fixed gear bikes offer, there are also some advanced level techniques that can be performed on a fixed gear that will help you while riding. Practice these in a parking lot if you are just learning them: you do NOT want to bail off of a skid stop with traffic behind you.

Advanced Fixed Gear Techniques include:

The STRAPLESS SKID STOP

This technique is HARD. There's no question about that. Both other advanced techniques are performed by having straps on your pedals. Strapping into your pedals gives you the added ability to apply upward force against whichever pedal is currently descending in its rotation. This makes it MUCH easier to counteract the force of momentum that you've generated by accelerating.

In the case of the strapless skid stop, you are using ONLY the back pressure of your dominant leg against your dominant pedal, while it is coming up in rotation.

Simply put, to perform a strapless skid stop, you must:

First stand on your pedals (not COAST, but pedal while unseated, in a standing stance).Second, you must lean as FAR into your handlebars as you can. Many people call this skid stop the "crotch stop" because your crotch should basically be up against your step/ handlebars.Next, as your dominant foot's pedal is at its lowest point, you're going to brace your hips and crotch against your handlebars.Virtually at the same time, you are going to LOCK YOUR KNEE AND LEG SOLIDLY against the upward pressure of your pedal.You have to maintain balance here, but if you lock hard enough and really resist against the force of your pedal, you will find that the crank, (and thus, also the rear wheel) will stop turning, leaving you skidding your rear wheel, which will decrease your speed.

It is important to have MOST of your weight over top of the front wheel for this to work. If you have your weight over your seat while trying this, you're not going to succeed. If you're over the seat, there's simply too much friction between the rear tire and the street for this to work. Unless maybe you have Schwarzenegger legs.

If you're confused, check the video titled "Crotch Stop" at the bottom of this page.

The HOP STOP

The hop stop is similar to the skid stop, however, it is a bit different. While strapped in to your pedals, your goal is going to be to lifting up with the foot that is on the pedal descending while unseated, AND lifting up with your other foot a bit, so as to lift your rear wheel into the air slightly.

While your rear tire is off of the ground, you will basically try to even the pedals in midair before you land. When your rear tire hits the ground, there will be a small skid effect, but, your momentum will cause the wheel and the pedals to spin soon thereafter. Keep hopping the rear tire into the air and doing this until you come to a stop. This is slightly less damaging to your tire than the skid stop (strapless or with straps).

Hop stopping is briefly mentioned in some videos online regarding "how to stop on a fixed gear" but there are no specific videos showing this technique alone.

The SKID STOP

Skid stopping is extremely popular among fixed gear riders and can almost be considered a hallmark of the scene. If you've ever seen a cyclist whip their rear tire into a sideways skid while pedaling forward, that was the cyclist skid stopping. While skidding, it becomes possible to shift weight and whip the rear tire out a bit: beware though - if you shift too much weight, you'll find yourself tipping over sooner than you can recover.

To perform a skid stop, apply upward pressure from the foot that is on the pedal that is currently descending and apply downward pressure on the pedal that is ascending. This basically feels like you're trying to even the pedals against the force of momentum that you've built up while accelerating. When performed correctly, you will feel your rear tire skid against the ground and you'll hear the "CHHSHHH" sound of the skid.

Remember - skid stops wear down your tire. If this is how you stop as a primary means of stopping, you will need to replace your tires sooner rather than later. Luckily for you, there are tires built with this technique in mind. They are thicker and have more durable rubber layers between the soft rubber exterior. Thick Slick tires are a phenomenal brand that bolsters the added durability and they are reasonably priced.

Again, if you're not getting the concept, check the video below called "Skid Stopping".